Robert Buckland supports Royal Mail during Mental Health Awareness Week

Robert Buckland MP is lending his support to Royal Mail for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Royal Mail has one of the biggest workforces in the UK and employs 1,049 people in Robert’s constituency of South Swindon. Most of their staff will be affected directly or indirectly by mental health issues and as a business, Royal Mail have a duty to support them and the communities which they serve.

In 2017, Royal Mail launched a multi-year campaign for mental health, “Because Healthy Minds Matter”. It focusses on making a real and positive difference.

Royal Mail work with three charities, Action for Children, Mind and Mental Health UK as part of a strategic commitment to mental wellbeing.

Robert Buckland MP Commented: “I am pleased to support Royal Mail as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. Tackling mental health is a priority and I am glad that the government has legislated to treat it with the same importance as physical health.

“Progress is being made with more Government investment in mental health and an estimated 1,400 more people accessing mental health services every day compared to 2010, as well as around 750,000 more people accessing talking therapies since 2009/10.”

“In February 2016, an independent Mental Health Taskforce published a new national strategy, setting out an ambitious vision for mental health services.

“To make these recommendations a reality, the Government will spend an additional £1 billion on mental health by 2020-21 so that people receive the right care in the right place when they need it most. This includes increasing the number of people completing talking therapies by 600,000 per year, and helping 20,000 more people to find or stay in work through individual placement support and talking therapies. To help meet these ambitions, the Government is increasing the number of Mental Health professionals in the NHS by 21,000.

“A further £1.25 billion will be invested into perinatal and children and young people’s mental health services. This will help professionals to intervene early and more than double the number of pregnant women or new mothers receiving mental health support; and, will fund the training of around 1,700 new therapists. To support teenagers with eating disorders, the Government is investing £150 million.”